Cocoa-Nutty Hot Chocolate Mix
With Coconut Whipped Cream

Make a batch of this decadent hot chocolate mix to enjoy often — and share, too! Topped with a dollop of fluffy coconut whipped cream, this dairy-free delight is just what we all need at the end of a chilly winter day … pajamas not included.

Ingredients

1 cup dark cocoa

1 cup coconut sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon cayenne pepper

½ teaspoon sea salt

2 whole vanilla beans, split and scraped

Whipped Cream

1 can full fat coconut milk

Garnish

Maple syrup or honey

Toasted coconut

Shaved chocolate

Directions

For mix: Sift all dry ingredients together. Store in covered jar up to several months.

For coconut whipped cream: Chill canned coconut milk at least 24 hours. Drain coconut water and save for other uses. Whip cream with mixer until fluffy. Store in refrigerator up to 1 week.

To serve: Heat one cup of milk (unsweetened vanilla coconut or almond milk is delicious, but good old cow’s milk works fine, if preferred). Stir in 2 tablespoons of mix.

Pour syrup or honey onto a small plate. Put toasted coconut into bowl. Dip rim of mug into syrup, then into coconut.

Pour mixed hot chocolate into rimmed mug. Top with dollop of Coconut Whipped Cream and dust with shaved chocolate. Enjoy!

Recipe courtesy of

Wendy Perry, a culinary adventurist and blogger, chats about goodness around NC on her blog at WendysHomeEconomics.com.